CLAYTON BELTS 'EM IN REMARKABLE AUSSIES VICTORY

April 9: Kurrawa beach erupted as one today when club legend Phil Clayton produced the swim of his life to win a thrilling open belt race final at the DHL Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.

Clayton, 35, only entered the event to get points for his club.

"Not in my wildest dreams did I ever dream of winning the gold medal," said an ecstatic Clayton.

"Having the quarter-final of the ironman earlier in the day gave me an idea of conditions and I used that to my advantage.

"The last belt race I did was 20 years ago when I was a junior in Wollongong so to win the open title is amazing - I still can't believe it."

Clayton made the most of the southern-most alley and ran south to take advantage of the greener water.

An outstanding swimmer, Clayton put himself in the perfect position as the rest of the field had to contend with walls of white water.

With the hometown crowd watching anxiously on the venue TV screen on the beach Clayton headed for the orange buoy and touched first ahead of Northcliffe's Dev Lahey with Cronulla's Chris Allum third.

Clayton then clambered onto the back of the One HD jet ski driven by Ironman legend and close friend Trevor Hendy to salute the crowd and claim a remarkable victory.

{youtube}VkGZnTFZXcQ{/youtube}

Earlier in the day Clayton won his quarter-final of the Ironman ahead of clubmate Ky Hurst and Noosa Heads' Mitch Miller.

Hurst then won his semi-final of the open surf race just ahead of Shannon Eckstein.

Meanwhile New Zealander Ayla Dunlop-Barrett upset defending champion, Manly's Naomi Flood, in the open women's belt race final.

The prestigious Lifesaver Relay went to NSW Central Coast club Avoca ahead of Queensland powerhouse clubs Mooloolaba and Northcliffe.

Young Jordan Caldow caused a huge upset when he came out on top in a star-studded open men's beach sprint final.

The 17-year-old from the Grange club in South Australia outpaced defending champion Tom Nolan (North Cottesloe) and beach flags favourite Paul Cracroft-Wilson (Kurrawa) to claim the gold medal.

Caldow trailed Nolan for much of the race but powered to the front in the final 20 metres.

The victory vindicated his decision to bypass the under-19 competition to concentrate on trying to win the open championship.

In the open women's final, Elly Graf of Elouera was a clear winner ahead of Melissa Howard (Kurrawa) and Bree Masters (Cronulla).

The win gave Graf her third open beach sprint gold medal, having previously won the event in 2007 and 2008.

Defending champion Laura Shorter of Queenscliff placed fourth.

This afternoons finals will include the open men's ski relay, open women's and men's board rescue, U23 women's boat race as well as the open men's and women's Taplin relays.

Tomorrow finals will start from 8am culminating in the open ironwoman and ironman finals.

{youtube}qNHcSs0rsB0{/youtube}